Air Arabia

Have flown from Doha to Sharjah quite a few times now and although Air Arabia is an excellent no-frills airline I must comment on the unreliability of the flight times from Doha on 2 occasions I have had to wait more than 5 hours for my 45 minute flight and have had little help from the ground staff. The last time I flew from Doha on the 13th October and the flight was supposed to be 12.50we took off at 6.35.After repeatedly asking ground staff what was the hold up I was told it was "technical" and that it would be sorted in 15 minutes. This went on for more than 5 hours with a whole plane load of passengers wandering around the airport very confused. There is very little trouble at the Sharjah end for departures and arrivals and I just hope that something can be done at the Doha end to avoid any more lengthy delays.

For a low cost carrier Air Arabia is an excellent choice to fly within the Middle East and beyond. Fast efficient check-in in Sharjah you can show up at the Check-In counter 45 min. before departure which is impossible in Dubai. Short ways in Sharjah Airport quite hassle free. New spotless clean planes very much on time. I flew Air Arabia 4 times so far to Kuwait two times Beirut and Colombo. Very reasonable prices for snacks and drinks only AED 10 for a large sandwich and AED 4 for a soft drink (US$ 2.50 and 1.00 approx). Very fast internet reservation website quick and user friendly.

Following my flight from SHJ-Beirut I flew back yesterday from Damascus. The inflight service was just as good though the aircraft was older. However the check-in in Damascus was terrible with all the line for the three desks merging into one big mass of people pushing to get served. I was waiting for over an hour before I got to the counter. I asked for a window and got a middle seat (they said they had no more windows). I had to wait five minutes before someone could print me out a new boarding pass and eventually I got an aisle seat. I went to clear immigration and was told once i had had my passport stamped that I needed to pay 200Syrian pounds airport tax (mentioned nowhere even at check-in). I had to go back through security to buy the tax then go back airside and push my way through to the front of the immigration queue (I had been queuing at check- in so long the flight was boarding). Once on the plane it appeared that the flight was only half full and I had the entire row to myself so why they could initially only give me a middle seat I don't know. Back in Sharjah the immigration area is confusingly laid out and getting a queue that moves is pot luck. here again everyone is pushing to get served. A nightmare on the ground but great in the air.

I recently flew from Sharjah to Beirut. The staff were very friendly and I was given 11A an exit seat so I had a lot of leg room though all the seats seemed to have buckets of space (more than my previous LH economy flight). The pay-food was good value and tasty and we landed in Beirut 30 mins early. The attendants came though the cabin twice with free water. The A320 seemed brand new and was very clean. A great Flight.

I've tried flying with Air-Arabia and the fare is cheap. but the problem lies in the passengers well in such an low cost flight one may encounter those passengers that shower only once a week and whose habits are a bit rude or nasty.

Damascus to Sharjah with Air Arabia on march 27. Air Arabia is a low-cost airline - never had such legroom at other airlines in economy class. Staff was very friendly and helpful. I can recommend this airline for travelling in the Middle East.